Dear Friends,
Summer is here which means soaking up the sun, barbecuing, relaxing, and spending more time with family and friends. Spending time together is a great way to connect with children and build memories that can last a lifetime. Personally, this summer is a time of change and new beginnings as I take on a different role at PCA Illinois as Executive Director. I feel honored to lead such an exceptional team and look forward to many exciting things to come!
One of those exciting things is bringing back our Downtown Springfield Family FunFest. We are thrilled to provide this family fun event in Springfield again on September 9th. The FunFest will include games, bounce houses, performances, and much more. It’s going to be so much fun! Be sure to check out more information below and share it with all your family and friends.
As I look toward the future of PCA Illinois, we are committed to continuing the strong partnerships we have across the state and looking forward to building new ones in support of child abuse prevention efforts. Thank you for all you do in creating happy, healthy childhoods for children in Illinois. I hope you have a fun and safe summer!
Sincerely,
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Tarra Winters
Executive Director
Prevent Child Abuse Illinois
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The Downtown Springfield Family FunFest is back! It's been three years since we've held this exciting event for families in Springfield and the surrounding areas. The Family FunFest will take place Saturday, September 9th on the Y Block in Downtown Springfield. This festival is specifically geared towards children and families featuring inflatable obstacle courses & bounce houses, tons of games & activities, food trucks, appearances from some special characters, and a main stage packed with entertainment for the entire day! With a brand-new Toddler Area, this is one event you don’t want to miss. Admission is $10 per person, and parents and children 2 and under get in free. Check out our website for more info: www.springfieldfunfest.org
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In March of 2022 we conducted a statewide environmental scan survey to assess the current level of knowledge, education, and resources available to Illinois residents on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). We collected over 2,000 responses, and after months of careful analysis by the Human Trafficking Research Lab at Millikin University, we are thrilled to announce that the results of the environmental scan survey are now available to the public. We hope this data will help shed light on the importance of raising public awareness and knowledge on this very important topic and how together we can overcome the effects of ACEs and childhood trauma!
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You can find the full ACEs Environmental Scan Report on the PCA Illinois ACEs Project’s new website: www.happychildhoods.info
This website is a great tool for both professionals and community members who are looking to learn more about ACEs and find resources.
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With school out and summer vacation in full swing, children may have more social activities and free time than during the school year. One thing that never changes with the seasons is our commitment to keeping children safe from sexual abuse. Although a difficult topic to discuss, child sexual abuse can be prevented.
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Check out these resources for a safer summer:
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Recently, we've seen some huge wins for early childhood services, which were made possible through advocacy efforts! On May 27, the Illinois General Assembly passed the FY24 state budget, which included funding for Governor Pritzker’s Smart Start Illinois initiative. Smart Start Illinois will create additional preschool slots, provide more stable funding for childcare providers, and reach more vulnerable families with early support and resources. Funding increases for early childhood programs in the FY24 budget total nearly $300 million and include the following vital investments:
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$75 million (12.5% increase) to the Early Childhood Block Grant at the Illinois State Board of Education, which will be used to create 5,000 new preschool slots
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$170 million (increase of 41.4%) to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) for Child Care Workforce Compensation Contracts that will provide wages increases and support stability for the child care sector, as well as funding to serve additional families through the Child Care Assistance Program and support upgrades to the Child Care Management System.
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$40 million (34.5% increase) for Early Intervention at IDHS
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$5 million (27.9% increase) to expand home visiting programs at IDHS
Reach out to your legislators to let them know you support this incredible investment in early childhood services and thank them for their efforts! Find your representatives here.
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Upcoming Webinars and Events |
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Click the title of each webinar/event below to register or learn more!
Wednesday, July 26 | 1 pm - 2:30 pm
Thursday and Friday, October 26-27 | Naperville, Illinois
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More info on these webinars and events will be available soon. Watch your email for an announcement!
Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Webinar
Thursday, August 24 | 10:30 am - 12 pm
Downtown Springfield Family FunFest
Saturday, September 9 | 11 am - 4 pm
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528 S. 5th Street; Suite 211, Springfield, IL 62701
Phone: 217.522.1129
Fax: 217.522.0655
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